Coconut Cream Sandwich Cookies (Low Carb and Gluten Free)

Do you ever feel like something that should be solid, reliable and unchanging is actually shifting under your feet like quicksand? This is how I feel about nutritional advice sometimes. It seems like it should be relatively simple to figure out what is good for human consumption and what isn’t. I don’t know, I am not in the business of determining these things, but it feels like almost every time we turn around, there is a reversal in thinking about what’s healthy for us. Case in point: coconut oil. If you have been paying any attention whatsoever to health food blogs, you may have noticed that coconut oil has been enjoying an huge increase in popularity lately. But it’s a saturated fat, and the FDA tells us that saturated fats are bad for us, so what gives?

I’d say that this is a classic case of tarring all saturated fats with the same brush. Upon further inspection, it would seem that this plant-derived saturated fat may actually have some significant health benefits. Much of the saturated fat content in coconut oil comes from lauric acid, which is also a major component in human breastmilk and is well known to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties. There are quite a few claims about the positive health benefits of coconut oil out there and I am not well-versed enough in the subject to determine which of these are valid and which are a bit of hype. But I have come to understand that coconut oil can, and perhaps should, be incorporated into a healthy diet. It’s a wonderful dairy-free replacement for butter and adds it’s own special coconutty flavour to a vast array of dishes, from muffins to stir fries. You can get some wonderful ideas for cooking and baking with coconut oil at coconutoilcooking.com.

Let me clarify one point, however. When I refer to coconut oil, I am only referring to the virgin non-refined variety. The overprocessed, partially hydrogenated coconut oils, like any processed, partially hydrogenated or trans fats, are still pretty junky for you, and I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.

I had a chance to try Kelapo Coconut Oil recently, which is not only virgin and organic but it is also fair trade certified. More and more, fair trade is gaining ground and that’s a wonderful thing. It’s all too easy to turn a blind eye to the exploitative practices that occur in other countries so that we can have cheaper food items. I am guilty of this myself sometimes, quite honestly, so I am not trying to preach here. I think it’s worth it to be mindful of what I am purchasing and whether spending a few extra cents will support fair trade practices.

I decided to use the Kelapo Coconut Oil to make some sandwich cookies I’d had in mind for a while. At first, I was only going to use coconut oil in the actual cookie part and fill the centers with something mocha flavored. But as I was in the middle of baking, I decided to go whole hog on the coconut flavour and really play it up. Why not use the coconut oil as the base for a coconut buttercream? Why not add in some flaked coconut while I’m at it? And can I even call it a buttercream if it contains no butter? Ah yes, “coconut cream” it is.

The Results: Mmmm, coconutty goodness! Soft chocolate cookies with a hint of coconut from the coconut oil, on either side of a sweet, creamy coconut filling. I loved these, as did my husband. I didn’t even offer them to my kids because it didn’t make that many cookies and I simply didn’t want to share. If you are looking for a way to work coconut oil into your low carb diet, this is a great recipe to start with.

Roll 1-inch balls between palms and place on prepared baking sheet. Using your palm, or the bottom of a flat glass covered in parchment or cling wrap, flatten each cookie to 1/4 inch thick. Bake for 8 minutes and let cool on pan.

For the filling, whisk together coconut oil and powdered erythritol. Add vanilla, coconut milk and grated coconut until smooth and thick. Spread about 1 to 2 tsp of filling on a cooled cookie and top with another cookie. Repeat with remaining filling and cookies.

Makes approx. 12 sandwich cookies. Each cookie has a total of 15g of carbs and 2.6g of fiber, but only 5.8g of carbs if you subtract erythritol.

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.
I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them.
I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Carolyn, thanks for taking the time to share all that useful info about the benefits of coconut oil. Coconut cream or milk, on the other hand, DO clog up the arteries. I know that much because our local dishes here are laden with coconut milk and heart disease is our number one killer. Sorry to sound so dire… I do love the look and sound of coconut cookies, though!

I’m curious as to how you are 100% positive it is coconut milk that is causing heart disease where you are?? there have been so many lies about what causes heart disease & now the truth is finally coming out!! also, curious as to what area you are in?? have a great day!!

Yay!!! I am going gluten-free for a cleanse, may be permanent…who knows:-) So I am excited to make some of your gluten-free goodies! Another bonus, I am new to the coconut oil love, but received some to review, YUM! This recipe, is well making me drool, so delicious:-)

I agree, the healthy food info can be confusing, with things always changing….Hugs,Terra

I wish I could keep up with what is healthy for you. Just when I think I am getting enough exercise they change it, or enough whole grains. You just can't win! But if these cookies can help in anyway, I am there!

Waaaaa Carolyn… I love coconut and this is totally coconut heaven for me! Thank you for introducing us the coconut oil. I'm going to check it out now. Your kids are lucky eating yummy treats like this! I wish I grew up eating these delicious sweets so often!

Many low carb blogs & forums talk about the benefits of eating saturated fat…some of this information is finally getting into the popular press. I think if any type of cuisine seems to contribute to heart problems, it would be the carbohydrates in the cuisine that are the culprits, not the fats. Gary Taubes recent book "Why We Get Fat (and what to do about it)" addresses the topic really well. Here's a website I found that praises the nutritional benefits of coconut products, including milk:http://www.optiderma.com/en/they-talk-about-it/skin-articles/is-coconut-milk-healthy.htm

Finding blogs like Carolyn's that share delicious & healthful recipes that are low carb is wonderful!!!!

I find it amazing that something that was bad for you five years ago is now good for you, and vice versa. I try to just go with everything in moderation and get some daily exercise (well I wish I was better at the daily exercise bit). Coconut has been gaining in popularity from coconut water to coconut oil. Your cookies look delicious and something that I would not feel guilty at all eating.

I truly love Kelpo coconut oil. I am trying to come up with more savory dishes since Im usually using it in sweets…but these are beauties Carolyn, I think that I would only share one with my husband and leave the rest for myself hahaaha..Fantastic recipe!!!!

I love what you did with the Kelapo Coconut Oil. Coconut and chocolate are always a winning combination. At the Natural Products Expo there was coconut oil everywhere. Yes, saturated fat is unhealthy – but what you have to be concerned with are animal fats and partially hydrogenated fats. Extra virgin, organic, free trade coconut oil like that of Kelapo has healthy and beauty benefits 🙂

I've been seeing coconut oil everywhere on blogs lately, but haven't broken down to buy it yet because I've thought along the same lines as you. I thought this was bad for me? Thanks for the tip and the recipe…yum!

These look amazing! I've been doing a vegan low carb "cleanse" but I've got company coming in a few weeks and I wont subject them to my vegan insanity while they are here. This looks like the perfect recipe! I can't wait to see how they come out!

I have to tell everyone, I made these last night and they came out exactly like the picture and they tasted just as I hoped they would. They were incredibly easy to make and I did it while preparing dinner. I crumbled one up in some coconut milk ice cream and had my own cookies and cream ice cream for the first time in YEARS! It was heaven.
I highly recommend making these yourself.
Thanks for the recipe and please keep up the inspiration!

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Looking for the best low carb recipes? You've come to the right place! I'm Carolyn, a major carnivore and an unrepentant sweet tooth. Here you will find all you need to enjoy the low carb keto lifestyle to the fullest! Read more